Remember the golden rule – NEVER SEND MONEY TO ANYONE YOU MEET ONLINE.

Although the majority of Filipino singles are genuine and serious about finding a partner; unfortunately a few of them turn out to be scammers and malign Filipinos on online dating sites.

Most Filipino dating scammers work on the principle of low value, high volume scamming. Typically this involves asking a victim to send a small amount of money to buy food, pay for daily living expenses, internet access, hiring a private room with a webcam or numerous other variations on the above.

Filipino scammers may also ask you to send money for plane tickets, visa fees, marriage annulment fees or other travel related expenses.

Scam Warning Signs

WEBCAM SCAMS

There are several variations on this scam. In one variation a Filipino asks you to send money so that she can purchase a webcam for an online video chat with you. The victim sends the money to purchase a webcam and the lady vanishes with the money never to be seen again. In another variation the Filipino lady may ask the victim to send money so she can hire a private room in an internet café. Once again, the lady vanishes with the money. In the final variation of this scam the Filipino lady may explain that she is a student and is moonlighting as a webcam girl at an adult chat site. The Filipino lady sends the user a link to an adult chat site and states that the service is free and a credit card is only needed for age verification. Several weeks later the victim looks at their credit card statement and sees billing for adult chat services.

EDUCATION FEE SCAMS

In this scam the scammer asks you to send money for fees for college, university or other educational activities.

FOOD, RENT OR LIVING EXPENSES SCAM

In this scam the scammer asks you to send money for food, rent, internet access or other living expenses. Typically this will be followed by a request for another small amount of money shortly after the victim sends their initial amount.

TRAVEL EXPENSE AND VISA FEE SCAM

In this scam the scammer will say that he/she wants to visit you but doesn’t have enough money to pay for his/her plane ticket and travel expenses. They will then suggest that you send them the money so they can purchase a plane ticket. Shortly later they will tell you they need additional money for a passport, visa fees, transportation to the airport and miscellaneous expenses. In some cases they will also tell the victim that the visa requirements state that they need to have a certain amount of money in their bank account so they can proof to the immigration official that they have sufficient funds for their visa. Some scammers will show fake copies of plane tickets, visas or other documents to make the travel plans appear to be authentic. After wiring the money the victim waits at the airport patiently with a bunch of flowers for his/her love of their life to arrive. Only when all passengers are off the plane and the scammer doesn’t show up do they realize that they’ve been scammed. In order to avoid these scams never send money for any travel related expense, instead make it clear that you will travel to meet them AFTER you have spent considerable time chatting to them for many months. Also, make it clear that you will never send any money to anyone you meet online. If the person is genuine they should be very happy that you will travel to meet them, if they are a scammer and sense that they will never receive any money you will probably find that they disappear as soon as they realize they will never receive any financial benefit from communicating with you.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY/EMERGENCY SCAM

In this scam the scammer will contact the victim and explain that either they or some close family member has had some tragic accident or medical emergency and will die or suffer grave consequences unless you send them enough money to pay for the medical fees. Typical scenarios include traffic accidents, brain hemorrhages, heart attacks, kidney operations etc. In many occasions the scammer may have primed the victim by previously telling you all about their fake mom, son daughter etc and the victim may have even spoken to the fake mom, son daughter etc on the phone or by email. This is a ploy to gain greater sympathy from you when they reveal that “mom” will die in 24 hours unless you send the funds for an emergency operation. This scam plays on the victim’s emotions and can be hard to resist.

REQUEST FOR MONEY, LARGE OR SMALL = SCAM!

It’s important to remember that anytime anyone sends any money to any scammer, no matter how small, it encourages the scammer to harass other online daters for money. We strongly recommend never sending any money to anyone that you meet online, don’t even send money to buy a postage stamp…not a cent…zilch, nada. Remember when the money sending stops the scamming will too. NEVER SEND MONEY TO ANYONE YOU MEET ONLINE!